Cranberry

Hi,

We are staying in Bangkok for 4 days at the start of our honeymoon and are trying to choose a hotel. I've heard great things about Chatrium on here and TA, but I am concerned that it is so far most tourist attractions. I know that there is the river transport to the public transportation system.

I usually like to stay in areas near good restaurants, nightlife, people watching ops, etc to minimize travel time and taxis and to enable quick stops back to the hotel. I can sacrifice this if the hotel is great (I am entranced by the river views possibilities) and if there are at least a few things to do in the hotel's neighborhood. Vie Hotel and Adelphi Grande seem to be in areas with more action than Chatrium.

What do you all suggest? Does anyone have experience with the Adelphi Grande and/or the Vie Hotel? Will it be annoying to have to take the river transport to the BTS everyday? Is it worth it? We've found all of these hotels for about $100/night on Expedia.

Thanks in advance!

qwovadis

Inital bid for 5* only, $57, rejected for all three zones. Included 4* and made subsequent bid for $43 which was accepted by the Amari Watergate.

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.p...st=0&p=340217&

my fav 5* bidding Priceline easy to snag for about $40-$50

right at Siam Square very HM worthy will save u a bunch.

Otel.com my fav if u do not want to bid.

better prices by far than Expedia(lots of surcharges)

asiarooms.com agoda.com good value there also.

Congrats!

qwovadis

Otel.com also doing another 10% discount through Facebook

right now saving even more with them now.

www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8348680.htm

the cool thing from them is you get a voucher

for best available no added charges (resort charges) tax

like the others from the hotel when you book.

A GREAT way no to pay extra tax/charge.

simpsonc510

I always stay at Adelphi Suites on soi 8. Adelphi Grande is not in such a great location. But Adelphi Suites would not be my choice if on a honeymoon. Then, I might think the river view of the Chatrium might be more romantic.... but not much right outside the door. Siam and Sukhumvit area have loads of night life/restaurants/people watching/ street vendors selling all manner of goods, etc.

What ever you choose, being withint 5-10 minutes of the skytrain is really important.

Can you get any deals at places like S15? Just curious... although I've never stayed there. Or what about the Landmark Hotel? That would be a good choice and in a good location.

kmkrnn

Chatrium with its river views is very relaxing. The boat and Skytrain really are not that big a deal. We find the ride on the river is soothing after a day in the city. Rooms are very comfortable and the breakfast buffet has so many choices.

rhkkmk

several of the major sites are along the river making chatrium an ideal location and easy to deal with transportation issues...

for my honeymoon i would favor the peninsula, but perhaps you do not want to spend that much money...

rhkkmk

i just looked up adelphi and vie and neither of them offer very attractive locations...

Kathie

Being on the river makes transport to the major wats and Grand Palace very easy. I consider that cluster of Wats - Emerald Buddha, Wat Po and Wat Arun and the Grand Palace the most important sites to visit in bangkok. Staying on the river makes those very accessible and means you don't have to hassle with taxi drivers as you are leaving those places.

I consider the Jim Thompson house another must-see, and you can access that via the skytrain pretty easily from Chatrium.

What places are you concerned about it being far from?

Cranberry

Thanks for the info everyone.

Rhk, we are not looking to spend that much money although the Peninsula would be great. The VIE looked close to Siam Square (within walking distance) and just general activity/people watching. Adelphi seemed close to Sukhimvit Road. Is that not a good part of that street?

Kathie, I wasn't think about particular sites, just concerned that having to take a river boat to the BTS would become a hassle.

Simpson, I will check out those hotels.

I will try those sites, qwovadis. Thanks!

rhkkmk

nothing wrong with those locations, its just that i consider the river location much preferable...

simpsonc510

Adelphi Grande is 'buried' waaaay down soi 41/43?? Yes, it is down from Sukhumvit, but once you get to Sukhumvit you still have a hike to the BTS location. That is why I've not stayed at Adelphi Grande.

Vie looks like a nice hotel, but I'm not sure the location is all that close to Siam area.

Another one to check would be Siam@Siam Hotel. Not sure of the rates. It's very 'hip' and is close to MBK mall and National Stadium BTS station. Not as much activity at night as there is in the Sukhumvit area though.

SueHuml

Cranberry, I would take firmly any advice on hotels offered by RHKKMK (Bob) or Simpson. They know BKK very well and would not steer you wrong. I have only been there about 8 times, and would agree that being on the river (Chatrium) is really special and I never thought it a hassle to be taking the boat, in fact I have loved the quiet river beginning and ending to each trip out from the hotel.
Enjoy

dogster

I'd love to see a list of all the hotels rhkk and simpson have stayed in, in BKK, over, say, the last 5 years. They may have been there many times, but, with respect and affection, they stay in the same place and do the same things each time.

This is what the OP asked for:
'...I usually like to stay in areas near good restaurants, nightlife, people watching ops, etc to minimize travel time and taxis and to enable quick stops back to the hotel...'

IMHO, staying on the river is for people who like to 'look' at BKK and not be there. {lol - gee, I'll be popular for saying that...] The OP seems like a 'be-there' kinda person.

So am I. Here's where I've stayed over the last three years on many trips in search of the BKK mojo..

http://www.dreambkk.com/
www.s15hotel.com/
www.siamatsiam.com/
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeri...ropertyID=1946
tenfacebangkok.com
http://www.glitzbangkok.com/
http://www.banyantree.com/en/bangkok/overview
http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/...cw_default.asp
http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-1031...re/index.shtml
www.arnoma.com

Look at places in siam, sukhumvit or silom. I use:
http://www.latestays.com/
for easy navigation.

Kathie

dogster, I know you enjoy being provocative, but your comments about Carol and Bob are not entirely accurate. It is true that Carol has now found her "home" in Bangkok, but before that she stayed in a variety of places. Bob has really branched out in the last few years. His last SE Asia trip, he stayed at three or four different places, same thing the year before that. While the Marriott Resort and Spa had been his home, I guess he's preparing for it to soon no longer be a Marriott. So Bob has a pretty good sample of hotels he's stayed at in the last few years.

I can't believe I'm defending Bob's choices of hotels, as we usually don't agree...

simpsonc510

Kathie, I do see that dogster has also recommended at least two of the places I mentioned in my post. S15 and Siam@Siam were both in my post. Thank you, dogster! I, too, understand what dogster is trying to say. The Sukhumvit area is quite familiar to me, and I know for sure that this area has lots of activity all around that does not require the skytrain or a taxi or a shuttle boat. One can WALK to a wide ranging assortment of places! If it gets late, and the skytrain and shuttle boats have shut down for the night.... so what! It doesn't matter!

Carol

rhkkmk

thanks kathie....

i have no apologies for where i stay in bkk... we like comfortable a/c places with a tinge of lux and excellent swimming pools....

5 years:

marriott resort and spa
royal orchid sheraton
jw marriott
plaza anthenee
chatrium riverside
shangri-la
holiday inn silom
royal river hotel
comfort suites at old airport
the other popular hotel at the old airport--not amari
marriott sukhumvit park
marriott mayfair
peninsula


in addition to these we have looked at lobbies and rooms in scores of other hotels and apartments around bkk..
i favor marriott for their consistency, excellent beds, points and my status with marriott allowing upgrade, free wifi and free breakfasts.

as far as hotel programs i prefer the sheraton (starwood) program, especially for asian travel---can't beat the cash and points offerings.

rhkkmk

i should also note that priceline is not now what it once was as a source of hotels in bkk...